Send Your Inner Critic Packing

Recently I audited a Centered Riding Instructors clinic, taught by Susan Harris. If you get the chance to ride with Sue or attend a clinic she's teaching, take advantage of it. She's not only a gifted teacher, she's a genuinely nice person, and has well honed her craft. You “can't not” learn something valuable from her.

At a previous clinic, I had heard her tell people to send their inner critic on a trip. But something about hearing it this time clicked with me. We each have an inner critic, that little voice that nags us, mocks us, or generally tells us how we're not quite good enough.

Sometimes the critic undermines our confidence just as we're getting rolling — as we're about to mount up or ask for a canter. Sometimes she (my inner critic has my voice, I'm afraid) makes a big deal out of a small deal, causing me to procrastinate. And other times she just gets me off track. I battle my inner critic all the time.

Sue's advice was to do the opposite — to send your “advisor” on a trip to a very nice place so she won't be back soon. Encourage her to sit on the beach drinking tropical drinks with little umbrellas while you get on with your ride.

That is, of course, the tactic that we use in trying to change a horse's behavior, too. We show the horse what we want, and the behavior we don't want becomes extinct.

We all laughed at Sue's recommendation, but I realized that I spend far too much effort arguing with my inner critic. Instead of trying to live with her or beat her up (and myself in the process, of course), I'm going to try Sue's tactic of sending my “advisor” away. And then I'm moving forward without my critic's “assistance.”